The Taoiseach culled all 20 of his junior Ministers earlier this month, before reinstating 13 of them and elevating two backbenchers to his new Junior Ministry of 15 earlier today (Wednesday).

Deputy McGuinness, who had responsibility for Trade and Commerce in the Department of Enterprise, was not among the new appointees and Kilkenny-Carlow now has no Ministerial representation once again.

His demotion was one of the most sensational of the day and billed as the "biggest surprise" due to his high-rpofile nature and general effectitveness in his role.

His demotion is being blamed on honest comments he made in the wake of this month's budget, when he told KCLR 96 FM that Mr Cowen and Finance Minister Brian Lenihan had botched the first budget in October.


The other Junior Ministers who were dropped alongside Deputy McGuinness were Noel Ahern (Dublin North West); Sean Power (Kildare South); Maire Hoctor (Tipperary North); Mary Wallace (Meath East); Michael Kitt (Galway East) and Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim).

Mr Cowen said the idea behind the cull was to create a "more slim-lined and efficient allocation of responsibilities".